Parking meter locking means



Oct. 2, 1962 3,056,544

L. D. SOLLENBERGER ET AL PARKING METER LOCKING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1960 Ira/inform.

Later 0- fiallerzber'jar- R1 naldo jaacer'a 1952 L. D. SOLLENBERGER ETA]. 3,056,544

PARKING METER LOCKING MEANS Filed June 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 flffarrzaye.

1962 L. D. SOLLENBERGER ET AL 3, 5 ,5 4

PARKING METER LOCKING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 6, 1960 n f 9 W W My 8 11. 0% H m: m m 13 0 rM 4 Am 1962 D. SOLLENBERGER ET AL 3,056,544

PARKING METER LOCKING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 6, 1960 Ira Enters.

fieji r' D- fiolZenber er. if: naldojcz'acero 3,5fi544 Patented Oct. 2, 1962 fire 3,056,544 PARKING METER LOCKING MEANS Lester D. Sollenberger, Oak Park, and Rinaldo Sciacero,

Chicago, Ill., assignors to Nautec Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 34,321 Claims. (81. 232-16) This invention relates to coin controlled meters and in particular to coin controlled parking meters.

In the conventional coin controlled parking meter, means are provided for collecting the coins and storing them for removal by authorized personnel. The known coin collecting and storing means have several serious disadvantages such as difficulty of removal of the collected coins by the authorized personnel, and susceptibility to breakage and theft of the collected coins. The present invention is concerned with a new and improved coin controlled parking meter effectively eliminating the above discussed disadvantages.

A principal feature of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of a new and improved coin controlled meter.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a meter having new and improved means precluding undesired access to the interior thereof.

A further feature is the provision of such a meter including novel co-operating lock and bolt means providing an automatic retention of the bolt in the locking position when the lock is forced from the door as by vandals.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a meter wherein the bolt is connected to rotatable lock means by readily disengageable means permitting the bolt to be retained in the locking position notwithstanding a forceful removal of the rotary lock means from engagement therewith.

A yet further feature is the provision of such a meter wherein the means interconnecting the rotary lock means and bolt means comprises a cam and co-operating pin and slot means.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a coin controlled meter having a new and improved door construction effectively precluding the removal of the door from a closed position across an access opening of the meter enclosure as by prying the door periphery.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a meter wherein the door periphery includes a bevel inclined outwardly and a cylindrical inner portion fitted in the access opening of the enclosure.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a meter having new and improved co-operating removable key means arranged to define a handle firmly releasably secured to the door for facilitated manipulation thereof in moving the door between opened and closed positions.

A yet further feature is the provision of such a key including a handle portion fitting the space defined by a users forefinger, middle finger and apposed thumb.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a parking meter embodying the invention, with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the internal construction thereof;

PEG. 2 is a reduced plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the door thereof and a portion of the means supporting the door on the enclosure;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section thereof taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary schematic representation thereof illustrating the closed position of the door and the corresponding coin collecting position of the receptacle;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 but with the door intermediate its closed and opened positions and the receptacle intermediate its coin collecting and coin withdrawing positions;

HG. 10 is a View generally similar to that of FIG. 8 but with the door in the open position and the receptacle in the coin withdrawing position; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a key arranged for use in operating the lock of the meter and for manipulating the door and receptacle between the alternative positions thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a coin controlled parking meter generally designated 10 comprises a mechanism portion 11, an indicating portion 12, and a coin collecting and storing portion 13. The present invention is concerned with the coin collecting and storing portion 13; the mechanism portion 11 and indicating portion 12 may be of any suitable construction, the form thereof shown in the drawing being for illustrative purposes only. As best seen in FIG. 1, the coin collecting and storing portion 13 is housed in an enclosure 14 which may conform to the enclosure 15 of the mechanism and indicating portions 11 and 12 to define a unitary meter housing generally designated 16.

Referring now to FIG. 4, enclosure 14 includes a front portion 17 defining an access opening 18 selectably closed by a door 19 for controlled access to the space 20 within the enclosure. A receptacle 21 is disposed within space 20 for collecting coins passed downwardly through a coin drop 22 through an upper wall 23 of the enclosure 14. For this purpose, the receptacle 21 isprovided with an opening 24 in its upper portion 25 which is disposed directly below the coin drop 22 when the receptacle is in the coin collecting position shown in FIG. 4. The receptacle is disposed in the coin collecting position by a support generally designated 26 including a first portion 27 defining a base 28 removably carrying the receptacle 21. Support portion 27 is pivotally mounted on a pair of brackets 29 bolted to the enclosure at the opposite sides of opening 18, as by pins 30. Also pivotally mounted on the pins 30 is a second support portion 31 defined by a pair of bars each provided with a pin 32 at its upper end pivotally carrying a bracket 33 secured to the rear of door 19 by suitable means such as bolts 34-. Support portion bars 31 may be interconnected by a plate portion 35 as best seen in FIG. 5 for improved rigidity of the support.

Thus, in effect, door 19 is pivotally mounted on the enclosure 14 by means of bracket 33 and support portion 31 pivoted on the brackets 29 secured to the en closure. Support portion 27 is pivoted on the enclosure by means of pins 30 on brackets 29. Pivotal movement of the support portions 31 is transferred to the support portion 27 by means of a pair of co-operating shoulders 36, on support portion 27, and 37, on bars 31. Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 8 through 10, as the bars 31 are pivoted in a clockwise direction about pivot 31) during a movement of the door 19 away from the access opening 18, the shoulder 37 on the support portions 31 moves toward the shoulder 36 on the support portion 27 until, as seen in FIG. 10, the shoulder 37 engages the shoulder 36 to pivot the support portion 27 in a clockwise direction about pivot 30 together with the support portions 31. This clockwise pivoting of the support portion 27 causes the upper portion 25 of the receptacle 21 to swing outwardly through the access opening 18 providing for facilitated removal of the receptacle. To preclude injury to the exterior surface of enclosure portion 17 when the door 19 is in the fully opened position, a bumper 38, preferably formed of a non-marring material such as neoprene, is secured to the rear of the door to engage the enclosure portion 17 and maintain the door spaced therefrom at all times. When the door 19 is swung in the reverse direction back to the closed position of FIG. 8, the weight of the support portion 27 automatically returns the support portion 27 to the position of FIG. 8 with the receptacle 21 thereon returned to the coin collecting position.

To assure the proper disposition of the opening 24 of the receptacle 21 relative to the coin drop 22 when the receptacle is returned to the position of FIG. 8, the base 28 of the support portion 27 is provided with a pair of upstanding pins 39 receivable in a corresponding recess 40 in the lower end of receptacle 21. If desired, the receptacle may be provided with a lock41.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. through 7, an improved means for locking the door 19 in the closed position across access opening 18 is shown to comprise a cylinder lock generally designated 42 having a barrel portion 43 and a plug portion 44 concentrically Within the barrel portion and terminating inwardly in a threaded end 45. Bracket 33 includes a pair of side flanges 46 and a plate portion 47 extending across the rear of door 19 between the side flanges. As best seen in FIG. 6, door 19 is provided with an axial hole generally designated 48 and including a small diameter outer portion 49 and a large diameter inner portion 59 receiving a corresponding large diameter outer portion 51 of the lock barrel 43. The inner end 52 of the lock barrel is reduced in diameter and the bracket plate portion 47 is provided with an opening 53 corresponding to this reduced diameter and permitting the lock barrel end 52 to extend inwardly therethrough.

A cam 54 is fixed to the inner end 45 of the plug by means of a nut 55 retaining the cam against the inner end of the plug. A pair of bar bolts 56 is slidably retained in facial juxtaposition to the rear surface of bracket plate portion 47 with their inner end portions 57 received between the bracket plate portion 47 and the periphery of cam 54 and their outer portions 58 extending through corresponding slots 59 in the side flanges 46. The bolts are biased outwardly by a wire spring 60 extending through suitable openings 61 in each. When disposed fully outwardly from the axis of the lock 42, the outer ends 58 of the bolts extend through corresponding slots 62 in the brackets 29 thereby securing the door 19 in the closed position across access opening 18.

Movement of the bolts to and from the outer locking position is effected by a pair of pins 63 one each on the inner end 57 of each bolt and extending rearwardly through corresponding arcuate slots 64 in the cam 54 each eccentrically related to the axis of the lock 42. Thus, as the lock is turned in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 5, the pins 63 are urged radially inwardly toward the axis of the lock and, correspondingly, draw the bolts 56 inwardly from the brackets 29 permitting the door 19 to be swung open as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In addition to providing an improved locking operation, the arrangement of lock 42 in door 19 effectively precludes forcible entry to within enclosure 14, as by vandals. Thus, should such a person force the lock 42 inwardly through opening 50 in an attempt to release the locking mechanism, the inward movement of the lock portion 50 causes the portion 47a of the bracket plate 47 defining the hole 53 to be deformed inwardly into the path of movement of the bolts 56 toward the axis of the lock. Thus, the deformed portion 47a comprises a stop means effectively precluding the movement of the bolts 56 from the slots 62 in brackets 29, thereby preventing the opening of the door 19 notwithstanding a forcing of the lock 42 completely from the door.

Door 19 is further arranged to preclude unauthorized access to space 20 as by prying of the door away from the enclosure portion defining opening 18. For this purpose, the periphery of the door is arranged to define an inner cylindrical portion 65 accurately fitting the access opening 18 and inwardly abutting an annular shoulder 66 of enclosure wall portion 17 defining th inner end of the access opening. Th periphery of the door is further defined by a frusto-conical portion 67 extending outwardly from cylindrical portion 65 and tapering toward the axis of the door. Thus, any sharp implement forced into the space between frusto-conical portion 67 of the door and the cylindrical surface defining the access opening 18 tends to wedge the door mor tightly against the annular shoulder 66 rather than pry it free from the enclosure.

To further resist breakage of the meter as by vandals, it is preferable that the enclosure and door structures be formed of a thick rigid material such as cast metal. Resultingly, the door 19 is relatively heavy and it is desirable to provide some means for facilitated movement thereof between the closed and opened positions as illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10. For this purpose, the key 68 for opening lock 42 is provided with a handle portion 69 of a size substantially greater than the size of conventional keys. A rod portion 70 extending from the handle portion 69 carries at its distal end the key element 71 for cooperation with the lock. The rod portion 70 accurately fits the opening 49 in door 19 to comprise a rigid connection of the handle to the door when the lock portion 71 is fully received in the lock 42. Thus, key 68 provides a removable handle for facilitated manipulation of the door 19. As indicated above, the handle portion is relatively large; in the illustrated embodiment, the handle portion is arranged to fit the space defined by the users forefinger, middle finger and apposed thumb. More specifically, the handle may comprise a tubular element at least approximately /2 inch in diameter and at least approximately 3 inches in length.

In use, the coins may be withdrawn from the collecting and storing portion 13 only by authorized personnel having a suitable key 58. The key is inserted through door opening 43 to operate lock 42 and retract the bolts 56 from the bracket slots 62. The handle 69 of the key is then manipulated so as to pivot the door 19 from the closed position of FIG. 8 to the opened position of FIG. 10. In so moving, the door causes a pivotal movement of the support portion 31, which in turn causes a pivotal movement of the support portion 27 to swing the coin collecting receptacle 21 to the inclined withdrawing position of FIG. 10 wherein the upper end 25 of the receptacle is disposed outwardly of access opening 18.

The entire receptacle may be withdrawn by an axial outward movement of the receptacle and an empty replacement receptacle installed, or the collected coins may be removed from the originally installed receptacle and this receptacle reinstalled. The guide pins 39 carried on the base 28 of the support portion 27 effect an automatic proper positioning of the installed receptacle so that upon a reverse movement of the door 19 back to the closed position of FIG. 8, the receptacle is automatically disposed with its coin passing opening '24 aligned with the coin drop 22 of the enclosure 14. The key 68 is now withdrawn, leaving the meter in the locked condition, the above disclosed structure of the meter 10 effectively positively precluding undesirable access to the space 20* in which the coins are collected and stored, While permitting facilitated ready removal of the collected coins by authorized persons having the proper unlocking means.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a coin controlled meter: an enclosure having an access opening; a door selectively closing the opening and having a hole therethrough aligned with said opening; a lock in said hole having a portion controlledly rotatable within the enclosure; a latch on the enclosure; bolt means connected to said lock portion and movable to engage the latch to lock the door in closed position; and a stop means in the enclosure inwardly adjacent the lock and movable, as a result of an inward displacement of the lock, into the path of movement of the bolt means to block withdrawal of the bolt means from engagement With the latch Whenever the lock is forced inwardly through said opening as by vandals.

2. The coin controlled meter of claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises a plate facially juxtaposed to the rear of the cover and partially overlapping said hole, said bolt means being spaced rearwardly of the plate adjacent said hole a distance no greater than the extent of overlapping whereby the overlapping portion of the plate is deformed inwardly, by an inward displacement of the lock, to preclude unlocking movement of the bolt means.

3. In a coin controlled meter: an enclosure having an access opening; a door selectively closing the opening and having an outwardly necked hole therethrough aligned with said opening; a lock complementarily fitting in said hole and having a rotatable portion Within the enclosure; a latch adacent said lock portion; and bolt means connected to said lock portion and selectively engageable with the latch to lock the door in the opening-closing position.

4. The coin controlled meter of claim 3 wherein said lock includes an inwardly facing shoulder and a stop plate is secured to the inner surface of the door to overlie said shoulder and retain said lock in said opening.

5. In a coin cont-rolled meter having an enclosure having an access opening, a door selectively closing the opening, a lock in the door for locking the door in the closed position across said opening, a receptacle Within the enclosure for collecting coins inserted into the meter, and a support pivoted on the enclosure including a first portion connected to the door and a second portion carrying the receptacle, said support being arranged to dispose the receptacle in an upright coin collecting position within the enclosure when the door is disposed in the closed position and to dispose the receptacle in an out- Wardly accessible position for Withdrawal of the collected coins when the door is disposed in an opened position spaced from said opening, a key removably engageable with the lock for operating the lock, said key being provided with a handle fitting the space defined by a users forefinger, middle finger and apposed thumb to comprise means for pivoting the door and receptacle on the support, said door being provided with a hole outwardly aligned with the lock, and said key being provided with a portion between the handle and a lock engaging portion thereof comprising a shaft having a cross section complementary to said hole to provide a firm connection of the handle to the door when the lock engaging portion is disposed within the lock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 322,373 Harrison July 14, 1885 2,426,649 Shann Sept. 2, 1947 2,779,535 Jones Jan. 29, 1957 

